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Topgun Largecar Shootout begins Friday in Illinois

Now in its fifth year, the Topgun Largecar Shootout will be held Friday, July 27, through Sunday morning at the Rantould, IL, airport. Organizers expect more than 100 semi-trucks to be on hand for the event which will also include a car show hosted by The Country Cruisers and sky-diving demonstrations.

Tom Reitz, owner-operator of Reitz Trucking, Gifford, IL, said the turnout could number from 125 to 160 trucks from as far away as Canada, Oklahoma and Virginia.

Gifford, told the Rantould Press the Topgun truck show began in 2008 with about 30 semi trucks. “It’s just going to be bigger and better,” Reitz said. “More trucks coming. We had 92 last year. There will be well over 100 this year.”

“The caliber of the trucks — you could have three or four trucks and have a million dollars worth of iron,” Gifford said. “We’re going to have over a hundred like that.”

Registration and truck parking for the show opens at noon Friday. The show also features a beer garden and DJ Bob Bass will provide music throughout the three-day event. The show will also feature a mini large car show featuring 1/64th-scale model semis. Among those on hand will be representatives from Chrome Truck Mafia, which formerly hosted “Trick My Truck” on cable TV channel CMT.

At dusk on Friday one of the featured events of the show — the parade of lights — begins. The illuminated rigs will drive to Thomasboro and back via U.S. 45.

Saturday will include a full day of activities beginning at 9 a.m. with registration for the truck show. The first of three skydiving demonstrations featuring Illinois Skydiving Center will also begin on Saturday.

Truck and mini largecar awards will be presented at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.